About Udawalawe
Udawalawe National Park is the best place in Sri Lanka — and arguably in Asia — for reliable wild elephant sightings. Covering 30,821 hectares around the Udawalawe Reservoir in Sri Lanka's south-east, the park supports a permanent resident population of around 500–600 wild Asian elephants, with herds of 20–50 animals commonly encountered on morning game drives.
Unlike Yala, where leopards are the headline attraction and elephants are a bonus, Udawalawe is unambiguously elephant country. The open grasslands and reservoir banks that dominate the park make sightings almost guaranteed — it is routinely possible to see 100+ elephants in a single four-hour safari. Bulls, matriarchs, juveniles, and calves can all be observed at close range from jeeps on the designated tracks.
The Elephant Transit Home (ETH) on the park boundary is a unique conservation facility run by the Born Free Foundation and the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society. Orphaned elephant calves — many victims of electric fence conflicts or separated from their mothers — are reared here and progressively rehabilitated for release into the wild. The 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 6:00 PM feeding sessions are open to visitors.
Highlights
- Near-guaranteed sightings of large wild Asian elephant herds
- Watch orphaned calves being fed at the Elephant Transit Home
- Bird-rich reservoir margins with painted storks and sea eagles
- Open savannah landscape ideal for photography in golden light
- Buffalo, sambar deer, water monitors, and crocodiles alongside elephants
- Combine with Yala for a complete southern wildlife circuit
Plan & Book
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What to See & Do
Wild Elephant Herd Safaris
The park's primary draw — open jeep safaris through grassland and reservoir margins where herds of 20–100+ wild Asian elephants graze, bathe, and interact. Morning (6–9 AM) and late afternoon (3–6 PM) sessions are most productive.
Elephant Transit Home (ETH)
A rehabilitation facility for orphaned elephant calves — run by Born Free Foundation. Feeding sessions at 9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, and 6 PM allow visitors to watch keepers bottle-feed calves ranging from weeks to three years old. The calves are progressively wild-released.
Udawalawe Reservoir
The 3,783-hectare reservoir at the park's heart is the ecological anchor — thousands of waterbirds use the banks, and elephants visit throughout the day to drink and bathe. Jeep tracks run along much of the shoreline.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Sri Lanka's oldest and most famous elephant rescue and breeding centre, 40 km north-west of Kandy. A herd of 80+ elephants is cared for here — the twice-daily river bathing (10 AM and 2 PM) is the highlight, though animal welfare conditions are debated.
Getting There from Colombo
Via Southern Expressway (E01) to Embilipitiya, then to the park entrance. Easy drive.
Bus to Embilipitiya via Ratnapura or Southern Expressway. Jeep hire from Udawalawe junction.
Udawalawe is most often combined with Yala (90 km east) and Mirissa (120 km south-west) on a southern Sri Lanka loop.
Best Time to Visit
The dry season (June–September) concentrates elephants around the reservoir. However, Udawalawe is excellent year-round due to the large resident elephant population.
Traveller Tips
- ▸Book a reputable jeep operator in advance — quality varies significantly; ask for English-speaking naturalists
- ▸The ETH feeding sessions are first-come: arrive 15 minutes early for the best positions
- ▸Dawn safari (6–9 AM) is optimal — elephants are active, light is golden, and temperatures are comfortable
- ▸A full day with morning and afternoon safaris dramatically increases your total elephant sighting count
- ▸The southern park entrance road offers some of the best open grassland elephant sightings
- ▸Combine Udawalawe with Yala (90 km east) — one day each gives you elephants, leopards, and coastal wildlife
Entry Fee
Park entry per half-day session. Mandatory jeep hire additional.
6:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily
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